Posted on 05/07/2012 2:39:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Although the sinless life of Jesus Christ is a foundational tenet of the Christian faith, a study recently released by the Diocese of Camden found that 60 percent of practicing Catholics in southern New Jersey believe Jesus sinned during his time on Earth.
"The number of Catholics who have a very flawed, a seriously flawed, understanding of who Jesus is, that's troublesome," Bishop Joseph Galante of the Diocese of Camden said during a press conference, USA Today reports. "We've got to re-focus on how we teach and inform people. Jesus is the foundation of who we are as Catholics."
The study was commissioned by the diocese with the hope that the results would help it to better evangelize the communities it serves. The study was conducted by the Barna Group, a Ventura, Calif.-based research organization, which surveyed 612 adults living in the six New Jersey counties within the diocese.
Of those surveyed, 34 percent identified themselves as Catholic, but there are some discrepancies between what the church teaches and what some of them believe.
For example, the study showed that four out of ten of these Catholics disagree with the idea that sex should be reserved solely for marriage. While 38 percent of the total residents living within the Camden Diocese agree strongly with the idea that the Bible is "totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches," only 28 percent of Catholics in the diocese believe the same.
Another major issue Galante discussed during the press conference was the high number of Catholics in his diocese who simply don't attend Mass. One-third of lapsed Catholics said they have other priorities or are too busy to attend, while others said they just aren't interested in church (27 percent).
"What intrigued me in particular was the high number of people who don't attend Mass simply because they have other priorities," said Galante.
"One of the things we need to do is emphasize that worship time can also be part of family time as well. These findings are both troubling and a challenge as we begin to deepen our evangelization efforts."
Peter Feuerherd, director of communications for the Diocese of Camden, told The Christian Post on Monday that another thing that struck him from the study was the low percentage of Catholics who invite others to church. The study found that Catholics (33 percent) were half as likely as Protestants (66 percent) to invite someone to visit their church.
"I find that the 'ask' is so important, and Catholics are not in the habit of the 'ask.' Even our parishes are not in the habit of the ask," said Feuerherd.
He also indicated that a major issue all churches have to deal with is the tendency for people to want to always be productive in the American culture. Those who don't take time off from work on the weekends are honored in our society, he says, and other "distractions" like youth sporting events and various forms of entertainment can sometimes take away from church attendance.
"I think we have lost ... the idea that whatever that Sabbath day is, it is valuable. It's important that people have it," he said.
Other interesting findings from the study:
-Of the Catholics surveyed, 38 percent favor attending church only on holidays.
-Among all of the adults surveyed, 51 percent said churches are "too involved" in opposing abortion or same-sex marriage.
-Nine out of ten (89 percent) adults said they know about the clergy abuse scandals that have occurred within the Catholic Church. Among those who are aware of the scandals, 89 percent consider it a "major issue."
-Only 18 percent of Catholics strongly agree that it is their personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others, as compared to 40 percent of Protestants and 36 percent of people who believe in non-Christian faiths.
RE: How many Methodists, Episcopalians, etc. think Christ sinned.
We’ll just have to wait for another study for that.
The children of Catholics are not properly taught. Catechism was handed over in many or most parishes to dissident nuns and ignorant laymen, who were themselves never properly taught. What else can you expect, after more than 50 years of such negligence?
Catholic schools, catechism classes in parishes, and bishops’ staffs are still loaded down with ignorant or even malignant teachers. The majority of nuns in the country are dissident, and often one of them is still in charge of the parish’s catechetical effort.
Before Vatican II, there was a standard catechism that worked very well. That was thrown out. Eventually, “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” replaced it, but very few people actually use or consult it. Instead, we continue to have watered down and sometimes dissident texts.
And how many priests these days preach sermons that actually educate their parishioners in the truth of their religion? There are a few, but they are pretty scarce.
Actually, not true. There are three readings from the Bible every Sunday, and parts of the Mass are also taken from the Bible. And most parishes have voluntary Bible study classes.
The problem is dissident priests, nuns, and religious teachers who fail to explain the Bible properly after it is read.
Why? If it’s not in scripture, it’s not so? I suppose you’re not Catholic, so was never taught about the Immaculate Conception. Would it not make sense that the body and soul that carried Our Lord should not be perfect and free of all sin, including original? If you prefer to believe that she had sin on her soul, go ahead. I was taught differently, and I believe what I was taught.
Sadly, that flawed understanding is a direct result of 40 years of happy, clappy religious education, that focused on peace and love, and not much on Scripture and the life and teachings of Jesus.
Nah, they could easily educate themselves on Church teaching by picking up a copy of the new Catechism. It's very readable, has a great index for when one has a question about the Faith, and is chock FULL of the Scripture on which Church teachings are based.
Evidently they are not picking up the new version you mentioned and are too busy being liberal democrats.
"Christians" DO believe that Jesus is God!
Bingo. One of the issues is the concept "their parents will teach them". Great concept but with the major flaw of "What if they don't?" Some of the best and most solid members I know were the children of the lapsed and those who never were members. Why? Because when they have kids they send their kids to Sunday School with the vague idea that it will be good for them. And it is free babysitting for a few hours.
We send a bus around every Sunday to pick up kids who's parents do not attend. Some times they bring their little friends as well. And in Sunday School they get taught.
Not sweet generalities but the foundations of our faith.
Some of them don't stick. But a lot of them do. Sometimes their parents come to see what all the fuss is about. Sometimes they even stay.
But it starts with the children. Yes we do have people the convert in their 20's all the way up to their late 90's. Still if your children don't know what they believe or why they believe it they are not going to stay. So for those who's parents teach them you reinforce their teaching. For those who have no teaching from their parents, teach them as well.
Yes, I agree.
Count me a one of the less than half Catholics from South Jersey that believe Jesus was sinless.
MARKED FOR READING
Who and what is Jeff Schapiro?
RE: Who and what is Jeff Schapiro?
It says on the web page : By Jeff Schapiro , Christian Post Reporter
With all due respect it cannot be so if Scripture contradicts it — as it does clearly in many places (Romans 3:23, among others states clearly that ALL have sinned; Romans 3:10 - There is none righteous; no not one...” and that would include Mary). The difficulty is trying to make sense out of something using our own faulty human reasoning. We are bound to fail and twist Scriptures to say what they do not in the process. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8)
You gotta understand, for people like murron, scripture has to be interpreted ACCORDING TO HOW THE VATICAN TELLS THEM TO.
He/she isn’t allowed to interpret it himself/herself.
There, fixed it for you.
Fine. You have your beliefs, and I have mine. I didn’t make comments on this thread to be “educated” by non-Catholics. I am very firm in my beliefs and the Blessed Mother is the Immaculate Conception as She told the children of Fatima, which I’m sure you don’t believe in as well. You can quote Scripture all day long, but I have learned through the years, anyone can interpret Scripture anyway they want to, so don’t waste your time on me.
Another hostile Non-Catholic who does not respect the religious beliefs of others. Why is your interpretation of the Bible more believable than the Vatican’s? Did God speak to you directly and tell you that you have been chosen to “educate” others and that you are more knowledgable? It seems that you have assumed a power that you don’t have. I have encountered many non-Catholics who seem so frightened by the Catholic Church that it has become a quest to prove her folllowers wrong. Good luck trying. The Church has been around over 2000 years and it will take more than those outside of the Church to bring Her down.
I tried to be very gracious in my response to you, but you are obviously very hostile about the truth. I’m sorry for that, but there really is no “interpretation” involved. Scripture says what it says. It’s got nothing to do with “your belief” versus “my belief”, or defending your denomination against any other. Scripture speaks for itself regardless of what one might want to believe. (I can choose to believe the world is flat, but that doesn’t make it so if the evidence and everything else points to the contrary.)
But you are right: I rest firmly on the Scripture — better that firm foundation than something I would like to believe and got from a non-Authoritative source at some point which has no backing or confirmation in God’s Word and actually contradicts it.
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